The 3rd of Shaban – on the Islamic calendar reminds us of birth anniversary of Imam Hussain (PBUH), the grandson of the holy prophet of Islam and one of his truthful infallible successors.
The holy prophet said through one of his well-known tradition that the parable of my Ahlul-Bayt is similar to that of Noah's Ark. The honorable prophet also said, “"al-Hossein (‘a) is torch of guidance and Ark of salvation".
Imam Hossein’s divine personality, his closeness to God, the Almighty, and his role in leading and guiding the mankind has made him unprecedented divine role-model for entire mankind and symbol of resistance against all injustices.
In the house of the Holy Prophet, which presented the best image of both the worlds - the heaven and the earth - a child who benefited humanity as if he was Divine Impression reflecting the earth, was born on one of the nights of 3rd of the blessed month of Shaban.
His father was Imam Ali, the best model of kindness towards his friends and the bravest against the enemies of Islam, and his mother was Hazrat Fatimah, the only daughter and child of the Holy prophet who had as universally acknowledged, inherited the qualities of her father.
Imam Hossein, is the third infallible Imam. When the good news of his birth reached the Holy Prophet, he came to his daughter’s house, took the newly-born child in his arms, recited adham and iqamah in his right and left ears respectively, and on the 7th day of his birth, after performing the rites of aqiqah, named him al-Hossein, in compliance with Allah’s command.
Hasan and Hossein, the two sons of the Holy Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib and Hazrat Fatimah, Lady of Light, were respected and revered as the ‘Leaders of the Youths of Paradise’ as stated by the Holy Prophet.
Imam Khomeini, the leader of contemporary Muslim world, stressed that the struggle for the Islamic revolution was inspired by the genuine teachings of Islam, and has been closely associated to movement of Imam Hssain (‘a) who rose against all types of tyranny.
To clarify the place of highly spiritual certainty of the companions of Imam Hossein (‘a), Imam Khomeini once said:
“As the Master of Martyrs on the day of Ashura approached the time of martyrdom his face was shining more, and his companions were competing to win martyrdom, they knew they would soon become martyrs, but they raced towards it because they knew where it would lead them, and they knew why they came (to support the Imam), they were aware that we had come to perform their divine duty, they had come to save Islam.”
According to the great Imam, matchless sacrifice of the Household of Imam Hussein (PBUH) and his Companions shook the pillars of tyrant rulers.
“The revolution of Ashura emerged at the hands of the Master of Martyrs, who by sacrificing his own blood and the blood of his dear ones saved Islam and justice, and condemned the rule of the Umayyads and demolished its rules and foundations.”